Two weeks ago a friend of mine who studies monarchs at the University of Minnesota gave me a bunch of chrysalises that were not going to hatch (or whatever technical term he used.) Needless to say no matter how hallmarkie it sounds the cocoons were beautiful, tiny pieces of jade with gold running through. The girls and I hung them in the kitchen by the window so we could watch them move in the light. Okay so I could watch them move in the light. The girls thought it was lame without butterflies.

Today I woke up to Monarchs flying around my house there was one drinking out of my coffee cup. I woke up my girls and we spent the next 40 minutes trying to convince them that outside was a better world. It took a great deal of convincing.

This week I was told by someone that I live mostly in illusions, what I write here isn’t always accurate. Granted. You don’t drink much beer and you haven’t published a book. These are true things. I don’t drink much beer…only good beer. My book, whose title changes almost monthly is waiting. It is done and it is not done.

The manuscript has been read by the two writers in the world who I admire more than anyone, both have blest it. Both have said, yes, this will see the light of day. I am waiting for Yale. I am waiting for something big. I am also okay with “the big thing” not happening.

I am okay with the book just being pieces of jade catching the light. The beauty of it. After all, I’m the girl who lives mostly in illusions.